Rachel Chinouriri Breaks the Top 10: ‘I Think I Spoke Too Soon’ Lands at No. 9

Rachel Chinouriri has her first Top 10 album. The London-born singer’s second album, “I Think I Spoke Too Soon,” debuted at No. 9 on the Official Albums Chart dated Friday, October 23, the Official Charts Company reported: “London-born artist Rachel Chinouriri claims her first-ever Top 10 on sophomore LP, I think I spoke too soon (9).”

The placing is a clear step up from her debut. “What a Devastating Turn of Events,” released in May 2024, peaked at No. 17 on the same chart. The new album, released on October 16 through Parlophone, also opens at No. 2 on the Official Scottish Albums Chart, at No. 2 on the Official Album Sales Chart and at No. 2 on the Official Physical Albums Chart, Official Charts data shows. Chinouriri, 27, was born in Kingston upon Thames, London, and is from Croydon, in south London.

The week’s No. 1 album belongs to Fontaines D.C., whose “Dopamine Chamber” shifted more than 70,000 chart units to give the band the third-biggest opening week for an album in 2026, the Official Charts Company said. Fontaines D.C. are an Irish five-piece — a distinction this story keeps plain, in a chart report about British acts — and “Dopamine Chamber” is their second UK No. 1, following 2022’s “Skinty Fia.” It is also, Official Charts reported, the fastest-selling Irish studio album in 15 years, since Snow Patrol’s “Fallen Empires” in 2011, and it topped the Official Record Store Chart and the Official Vinyl Albums Chart as well.

Below the No. 1, Olivia Rodrigo’s “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love” stands at No. 2 and Michael Jackson’s “The Essential Michael Jackson” at No. 3, Billboard UK reported. Olivia Dean’s “The Art of Loving” holds at No. 4, and Sienna Spiro’s debut, “Visitor,” rounds out the top five. Zach Bryan’s EP “Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs” debuted at No. 11, Official Charts said.

There was a second British breakthrough further down the chart. Nieve Ella, a singer-songwriter from the Midlands, entered at No. 31 with her debut album, “How Long Will It Take?” — her first Top 40 placing, the Official Charts Company and Billboard UK both reported. “Huge congratulations to rising British star Nieve Ella,” Official Charts wrote, “as her debut LP How Long Will It Take? enters the Top 40 at the first time of asking (31).”

Two veteran names also moved. Tears for Fears’ 1989 album “The Seeds of Love” is back inside the Top 20, at No. 19, after a deluxe CD reissue was dropped, Official Charts reported. And Richard Thompson took his 12th Top 40 album as “Hippies, Thugs & Heroes” entered at No. 40. “Finally,” Official Charts wrote, “Richard Thompson bags his 12th Top 40 album, seeing Hippies, Thugs & Heroes sneak in at Number 40.”

Chinouriri’s No. 9 is the headline British result of the chart week: a first Top 10 album, eight places above her debut’s peak, one week after release. The Official Albums Chart is published each Friday by the Official Charts Company; “I Think I Spoke Too Soon” begins its chart run with one week inside the Top 10.

Sources: Official Charts Company; Billboard UK.